Combination play pen and sandbox



Nov. 14, 3950 K. I. KAYE COMBINATION PLAY PEN AND SANDBOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan 12, 1949 Fig.

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KenheI/r I Kaye JNVENTOR.

WW 27M Nov. 14, 1950 K. I. KAYE. 2,529,951

COMBINATION PLAY PEN AND SANDBOX' Filad Jan. 12, 1949 2 shee' s sne t 2 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE -j COMBINATION PLAY PEN AND SANDBOX Kenneth I. Kaye, Green Bay, Wis.

Application January 12, 1949, Serial No. 70,486

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in furniture for children and more particularly to indoor and outdoor playing apparatus for children.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a combination play pen and sand box that is quickly and readily converted from one form to the other in a convenient manner.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a combination play pen and sand box including a pair of. enclosure forming members that are hinged together so as to permit the same to be folded into a smallvarticle for transporting or storing.

Yet another object of the present. invention is to provide a pair of enclosures that are slidably connected to each other and embodying novel and improved means for retaining the same extended relative to each other.

A further object of thepresent invention is to provide a. combination play pen and sand box comprising a plurality of complemental sections and novel and improved means detachably joining the sections.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details ofconstruction and operation as-more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being hadto theaccompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is aperspective view of the present invention assembled for use as a play pen;

Figure 2 is avertical sectional view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a..perspective .view showing the present invention collapsed for carrying or stormg;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which the upper and lower enclosures are slidably connected;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the locking members or keys used in conjunction with the present invention, and a finger grip (in dotted lines) that is associated with the key;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary group perspective view illustrating the sections forming the upper enclosure;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the manner in which the sections forming the upper enclosure are secured to each other, the key being shown in section; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the locking bars or latches that is used in conjunction with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral I 0 represents the lower enclosure of the present invention generally, that is preferably circular in configuration and which includes a pair of sections I2 and I4 having ver-'- tical edges I6 that abut each other when the same are assembled. J

Secured'to the inner surfaces of the sections I2 and I4, by any suitable means, is a pair of semi-circular floor sections or panels I8 having inner'straight edges 20 that are joined by a hinge 22 that is recessed in the lower surfaces of the panels to reduce or eliminate the possibility of the said hinge from marring or scratching a surface on which the same are supported;

The upper surfaces or edges of the sections I2 and I4 are'provided with key slots 24 and the key slots at the ends of "the sections I2i'communicate with the key slots in the section I4 so that a pair of substantially H -shaped keys or locking members 26, received in the key slots, will retain the sections I2 and I4 detachably secured together.

Finger gripping plates 28 are fixed to the upper edges of the keys 26 and are recessed in seats 30 provided in the upper edges of the sections I2 and I4 to eliminate any harmful projections.

Each of the sections I2 and I4 are provided with an open ended channel or guide opening 32 adjacent their upper edges and these channels slidably receive arcuate locking bars or latches 34 having a plurality of spaced openings or apertures 36 for a purpose which will later be more fully apparent.

The numeral 40 represents the upper enclosure of the present invention generally, including a pair of preferably semi-circular sections 42 and 44 having abutting end edges 46 that are formed with complemental key slots 48 that receive further locking members or keys similar to the keys 28. The upper, fiat, surfaces of the sections 42 and 44 are provided with recesses 50 adjacent and communicating with the key slots 48 so that the finger gripping plates 28 may be concealed to eliminate any harmful projections.

Fixed to the lower surfaces of the sections 42 and 44, is a plurality of circumferentially spaced downwardly extending rails or bars 52 that are slidably received in blind bores or recesses 54 formed in the lower sections I2 and I4 and which are also slidably received in the openings 36 in the locking bars 34 under conditions later to be described.

To convert the above structure to a play pen,

it is merely necessary to raise the upper enclosure until the lower ends of the rails 52 extend above the locking bars 34 and then slide the locking bars so that the lower ends of the rails 52 are supported on the locking bars between the openings 36.

To collapse the present construction, the locking pins or keys 26 are removed and the flooring sections are folded against each other as shown in Fi ureB.

Although the preferred construction of the present invention is of circular configuration, any suitable shape could be utilized by changing the number of sections forming the two enclosures and the locking bars and keys.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

Itv is: to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

- '1. A combination play pen'and sand box comp'risingupper and lower enclosures, a plurality of rods fixed to said upper enclosure and slidably carried by said lower enclosure,.a channel provided in said lower enclosure, a locking bar slidabl received in said channel and havin a plurality of openings slidably receiving said rods, the lower-ends of said rods adapted to bear against said locking bar adjacent said openings when the enclosures are extended relative to each other, and means for operating said locking bar.

2; A combination play pen and sand box comprising upper and lower enclosures, a plurality 4 of rods fixed to said upper enclosure and slidably carried by said lower enclosure, a channel provided in said lower enclosure, a locking bar slidably received in said channel and having a plurality of openings slidably receiving said rods, the lower ends of said rods adapted to bear against said locking bar adjacent said openings when the enclosures are extended relative to each other, and means for operating said locking bar, said means including a handle carried by said locking bar, said lower enclosure having a slot receiving said handle.

3. A combination play pen and sand box com- ,prising upper and lower enclosures, each of said enclosures including a pair of sections, means 'attachably' securing the sections of said upper I enclosure together, further means detachably securing the sections of said lower enclosure together, means slidably connecting the upper enclosure to the lower enclosure, and means for retaining the enclosures extended relative to each other, saidlast mentioned means including a latch bar slidably carried by said lower enclosure, and a channel provided in said lower enclosure, said latch bar being received and concealed in said channel. I

4. A combination play pen and sand box comprising upper and lower enclosures; each of said enclosures including a pair of sections, means detachably securing the sectionsof said upper enclosure together, further means attachably securing the sections of said lower enclosure together, means slidably connecting the upper enclosure to the lower enclosure, and means for retaining the enclosures extended relative to each other, said last mentioned means including a latch bar slidably carried by said lower enclosure, wherein said first-mentioned means including a pair of substantially H-shaped keys, the sections of said upper enclosure havin abutting edges, and complemental key' slots provided in the abutting edges receiving said keys.

' KENNETH I. KAYE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'ITIINI'S 2,313,834 Matha us Mar, 16, 1943 

